20^ ACEA MARATONA DI ROMA - THE WINNERS ARE: HAILU AND LEMMA

23-03-2014

RECORD OF FINISHERS AT THE 20th ACEA MARATONA DI ROMA: 14,608

The 20th Maratona di Roma was held this morning and set a new all-time record in any Italian sport event with 14,608 finishers. The previous record was 12,614 finishers set by Maratona di Roma in 2011.

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR ETHIOPIA: HAILU (2:09:47) AND LEMMA (2:34:49)

In windy and rainy conditions, Ethiopia's 27-year-old Legese Shume Hailu won the men's race in 2:09:47. After a very fast start, Geda Ayelu Lemma dominated the women's competition. Although she got tired in the end, she passed the finish line in first place with a time of 2:34:49.

Hailu pushed very strong at 37km, when he dropped his training and country mate Mekonnen Sisay Jisa, 31, who took the 2nd place (2:11:20). Kenya's 32-year-old Leonard Kipkoech Langat was 3rd (2:14:08). Italy's Domenico Ricatti, 34, ran a strong race and closed in 4th place with a personal best time of 2:15:07.

EMMA QUAGLIA BROUGHT ITALY ON THE PODIUM AGAIN AFTER 9 YEARS

Behind Lemma, 30-year-old Janat Hanane from Morocco crossed the finish line (2:38:08). Italy's Emma Quaglia, who was 6th at World Championships in Moscow last year and was the pre-race favourite, had a very bad day, but closed in 3rd place with a time of 2:43:24. Since 2005, when Tiziana Alagia was 2nd, any Italian athletes has gone on the podium in Rome.

ALEX ZANARDI SETS RECORD OF 4 VICTORIES (1:12:36)

The Italian paraolympic athlete Alex Zanardi, a former F1 driver, dominated the handbike competition (1:12:36). He set the absolute record of four victories in the competition.